In the three major arenas in which the fencer operates (a long term, the bout, and the action or technique level), each level's characteristics call for a different approach. These approaches are described by three key terms - strategy, tactics, and actions. It is possible to identify unique decisions at each level, and there are a number of tools and questions that can clarify and assist in carrying out these decisions. The following discussion summarizes some of these - the list is almost certainly not all inclusive.
Strategy of the Career: What are the overall goals for the fencer's career over multiple seasons? These should be set, and revised annually as long as the fencer is competing.
Strategy of the Season: What are the desired result of the season (a new classification to be earned, events for which the fencer should qualify, placings in key events, etc.)? These goals should be established prior to the start of the season. This drives the periodization of the training program with its division into cycles, and the selection of tournaments to enter.
Strategy of the Tournament: Which event is the critical event in the fencer's seasonal strategy (for fencers who enter multiple events)? What is the desired placement and what is an acceptable placement in the tournament? And how will the fencer and coach manage energy (physical and psychological) and technical and tactical readiness?
Strategy of the Pool: What is the desired placement out of the pool round and what is an acceptable placement? What is the range of desired indicators? How will the fencer and coach manage psychological factors and the level of physical arousal? What do we know about the opponents in the pool and their performance, and what should be our expectations in setting tactics for the bouts. And how does referee performance factor into the pool strategy?
Tactics of the Bout: What is the basic tactical approach - offensive, defensive, counteroffensive, or mixed? How will the opponent use the piste, and how should we use it? How will the fencer manage psychological factors and level of physical arousal within the bout. What is the desired touch outcome (and does the phasing of the touches matter, certainly a possible consideration in team bouts). What impact will the referee have on the bout? And what is our assessment of the conditions of the bout (the balance of the fencer's characteristics against those of the opponent, order of the bout in the pool or direct elimination, level of knowledge of the opponent, etc.), and how does the fencer exploit or compensate for these?
Tactics of the Moment: From touch to touch how we modify the tactical plan for the bout? Do we use the Short or Long Tactical Wheel or Tactical Tree? How do we apply the conditions of the bout and exploit changes in them?
Actions: In the phrase how do we fence eyes open in conditions of entirely known, known and unforeseen, or entirely unforeseen? How do we apply tactical rules of thumb implicit in out tactical and technical training?
Although fencing seems as simple as "let's go get some hits," an approach based on strategy, tactics, and actions structures how we think about our training, how we prepare for competitions, and how we fence each bout and each hit. Each of these has its place. Obviously we are not concerned with the strategy for our career when we are at 4 to 4 with 15 seconds left. However, the levels of strategy and how we have applied it to guide our tactical training have a lot to say about who gets that fifth touch.
About this Author
Walter Green is a Maitre d'Armes (Fencing Master) certified by the Academie d'Armes Internationale. He teaches modern competitive and classical fencing, historical swordplay, bayonet fencing, and Asian martial arts swords at Salle Green ( http://www.sallegreen.com ), the fencing school he operates in Glen Allen, Virginia. Maitre Green also trains fencing coaches through the Pan American Fencing Academy ( http://panamfencing.com ).
Copyright 2010 by Walter G. Green III. All rights reserved.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Walter_Green
